PL: Brighton vs Arsenal | Tuesday December 29th | KO: 18:00 GMT | Amazon Prime

[DanDare]

Would take them over the current duo for these games 9 days out of 10.

But personal opinion aside, Arteta still could've gone for other midfielders in the transfer window but chose to give Xhaka and Elneny their careers at the club back when they both looked out the door. And now he selects them. So this falls on him.

Yeah no doubt, he kept them and they aren't good enough. It doesn't make him incompetent IMO though

 

[bergholt]

Playing like this we'll lose more points than we'll gain so no point even thinking about top 6 until performances improves drastically.

Yes, but the trajectory is much more positive than it was a few days ago.

Clearly it’s going to take time for all the pieces to click together and the chemistry to build. Equally clearly we’re nowhere near yet.

But maybe, just maybe, there’s a tiny bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Mitch]

I cant understand the priase he is getting tonight? He looked one of the poorer peformers to me.

Give me McGinn over him anyday (who has been excellent this season).

 

[Plutarch]

Two wins in a row in the league! I'd almost forgotten what that felt like. Great finish from Lacazette, and after that we didn't have any real problems holding on to our lead.

 

[novar]

There is a lot of boring football around, but to be honest I don't remember ever seeing so much positive attacking football from so many teams in the premier league...

It used to be us and a a couple of other top teams like Man Utd and City late on that played exciting football. Most of the other sides just sat back and played conservatively. Now you have the likes of Leeds, Villa, Wolves, etc all going for it.

Even bleeding Stoke tried to change their style of play. It would be great if this timing didn't coincide with our conservative stale play making us one of the most boring teams in the league, while those with far less resources run rings around us. It's sad to see.

Yeah, really puzzled with people claiming football is boring now. Football outside of England has always been awful (Ligue 1 is the second best thing out there) but it really sounds like just another excuse to protect Arteta and his atrocious football than anything else.

Think the only boring sides in the league atm are hapless Sheffield United, mechanic Manchester City and Arteta's Arsenal

 

[bergholt]

Would take them over the current duo for these games 9 days out of 10.

But personal opinion aside, Arteta still could've gone for other midfielders in the transfer window but chose to give Xhaka and Elneny their careers at the club back when they both looked out the door. And now he selects them. So this falls on him.

There’s always a limit to how many you can sign in a given window, and how much you can spend. Maybe he decided that other areas needed reinforcement more desperately, like defence.

 

[MikelHadADream]

I cant understand the priase he getting tonight? He looked one of poorer peformers to me.

Give McGinn over him anyday (who has been excellent this season).

He was decent i thought, not one of his best performances. But watching him it looks as if he does the job Partey does. Agree with McGinn, we need a player like him, would be a much smarter signing.

 

[silent_shadow]

There’s always a limit to how many you can sign in a given window, and how much you can spend. Maybe he decided that other areas needed reinforcement more desperately, like defence.

Well he signed Ceballos so that was a spot in the squad that he filled up.

 

[Jack badmon]

Pros:

-two wins in a row, ****ing come on
-tierney, Mari excellent
- excellent from Saka for the goal
-lacazette too, shout out Arteta for the substitution. Excellent finish
-I have to give credit to bellerin I thought he was done out here. He was really good today again. Seems like he is wearing a low cut top hoping Barcelona are noticing but I don’t mind
-How we improved second half with the first time passes over the top and direct running different team
-Defended well towards the end
-still have Gabriel and partey to come back in so reason to be optimistic
-a bit of daylight now from relegation

Cons:

-first half was absolute toilet can’t have too many more of those this season
-aubameyang should have scored, two chances at least I would put money on him to bag
-martinelli disappointingly quiet
-Eleny was shocking first half


Overall all good. Wasn’t perfect but I’ll take it. We move!

 

[Rex Stone]

Biggest battering in Brighton since @OnlyOne ’s last trip there.

 

[Riou]

Even if the likes of Saka and Martnelli aren't at their best (though Saka was quality second half) we still look so much more dangerous having young attackers on the pitch, they always look to make something happen.

Please Mikel, keep them in the team!

 

[HaffBR]

He looked good imo (7-8 out 10 perhaps), but I still fancy Locatelli in this position.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

I still cannot figure out that first half performance.


Dreadful.

I think Arteta told the players not to get over excited by the Chelsea win which translated in to a professional, do your job and shut it down performance. In the second half, they took the handbrake off slightly and realised that they could play more expansive football and not neglect their defensive duties.

 

[Riou]

When Partey and Gabriel get back and fully fit, we could have a real chance at something this season.

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[Macho]

When Partey and Gabriel get back and fully fit, we could have a real chance at something this season.

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You're not allowed to say this lol

We have a relegation squad remember?

 

[nas7232]

The amount of abuse Mari got yet he has been better than most of our CBs. Laca was good - utilised well. ESR has shown he is miles better than willock

 

[bergholt]

Well he signed Ceballos so that was a spot in the squad that he filled up.

Renewing a loan is pretty different to making a new signing.

 

[Trilly]

Finding it hard to enjoy wins when you know they’re part of a nothing season.

A race for Europe might bring the enjoyment back but I’m not finding it fun while it seems like we’re finishing mid table.

 

[Jack badmon]

Finding it hard to enjoy wins when you know they’re part of a nothing season.

A race for Europe might bring the enjoyment back but I’m not finding it fun while it seems like we’re finishing mid table.

This is true but teams are dropping points everywhere you look. It’s not deluded to expect us to get even better with partey and Gabriel to return and hopefully some jan signings.

 

[MikeVinna]

Renewing a loan is pretty different to making a new signing.

Well he did bring in Partey so he couldnt have been that happy with his options being Xhaka/Elneny/Ceballos.